Rams Waive Phillips After No-Show

The St. Louis Rams cut their losses with troubled running back Lawrence Phillips on Thursday, waiving last year’s first-round pick.

The move came a day after Phillips skipped a team meeting and practice. Phillips went AWOL after an early-morning conversation with coach Dick Vermeil, who told him he planned to start Jerald Moore ahead of him on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Phillips was back at Rams Park for another brief meeting with Vermeil on Thursday, but left for good afterward.

Vermeil said he made the decision Wednesday night.

“I’m very disappointed it came to this, extremely disappointed,” Vermeil said. “I care about the guy, I really do. But I made the decision that was best for the Ram organization, and really what’s best for him.”

Sources within the team said Phillips’ problem was alcohol-related. He was arrested for drunken driving last year in California.

Vermeil has refused to discuss the subject and minimized any off-field problems.

“You can’t play when you’re drunk or hung over,” defensive tackle D’Marco Farr said. “I don’t think that’s what this is all about - at least I hope not.”

Three players fined

Unnecessary roughness in games last Sunday cost Jerome Woods $10,000, Mike Devlin $7,500 and Omar Stoutmire $5,000.

Woods, a Kansas City Chiefs cornerback, was fined $10,000 Thursday by the NFL for his hit on Denver receiver Ed McCaffrey. After the game, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan complained about the Chiefs’ rough play.

Arizona Cardinals center Devlin was fined $7,500 for a late block from behind on New York Giants defensive tackle Keith Hamilton. Although Hamilton was ejected for kicking Devlin, he was not fined.

Dallas Cowboys defensive back Stoutmire was hit for $5,000 for unnecessary roughness against Leslie Shepherd of the Redskins.

Oakland deal getting costly

The Coliseum deal that keeps the Raiders in Oakland will cost taxpayers millions of dollars for 28 years, even if the stadium sells out, the San Jose Mercury News reported Thursday.

Oakland and Alameda County officials have said only that the public will be required to pay subsidies for two years using a one-time windfall, and have refused to project future deficits.

But a confidential Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority report obtained by the Mercury News shows that the public will foot a $185 million bill even if every seat miraculously sells out.

And at the current slow rate of “personal seat licenses” sales, the public would have to pay $415 million over the course of the 30-year bond deal, according to financial adviser David Stephens.

Around the league

Denver Broncos offensive guard and former Idaho Vandal Mark Schlereth underwent back surgery for a herniated disc and likely will be sidelined up to six weeks. … Baltimore Ravens running back Jay Graham tested his bruised left ankle in practice and declared himself fit to start Sunday against Arizona. Graham replaced injured Bam Morris.